The CEO of Chobani yogurt a U.S. Olympic Committee sponsor has a response to Russia's anti-LGBT law.
According to the Huffington Post, the Greek yogurt company released a photo on Friday of yogurt cups in the six rainbow colors of the Gay Pride flag. The cups are seated in a field of snow, each holding the tagline "Naturally powering Team USA."
The New York-based company recently announced their disapproval of the anti-gay law approved by Russia, who are the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, which opened Friday. Last year, Russia's government passed a law criminalizing "gay propaganda."
"It's disappointing that in 2014 this is still an issue," Chobani's CEO, Hamdi Ulukaya, told the Associated Press on Friday. "We are against all laws and practices that discriminate in any way, whether it be where you come from or who you love--for that reason, we oppose Russia's anti-LGBT law."
Last week, Russia banned the shipment of 5,000 cups of Chobani yogurt, which were meant for U.S. Olympians, into Sochi. The yogurt remains in storage in a New Jersey ariport.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) wrote a letter to the Russian authorities urging officials to let the yogurt company deliver their protein-packed food to the American athletes. The Russian government is reportedly requesting a food safety certificate, which would deem the dairy product safe to travel and consume.
Despite turning in the necessary paperwork, the Russian government has reportedly denied the yogurt company access into the country.
Chobani follows in the steps of several other companies who have denounced Russia's anti-gay laws and urging other U.S. Olympic Committee sponsor to do the same. Those that oppose include AT&T (who was reportedly the first company to step into action), Visa, McDonald's and DeVry University.
"AT&T has broken the ice," said Minky Worden, director of global initiatives for Human Rights Watch. "Top sponsors of the Olympics like Coke, GE, McDonald's and Visa are going to have to follow suit - they are very much on the wrong side of history in refusing to use their leverage with the International Olympic Committee to ask for reform and to defend LGBT Russians."
DeVry University denounced their Russia's anti-gay laws via Twitter:
As a USOC sponsor,DeVry Uni & its parent organization DeVry Education Grp ,supports the diversity of our US Olympic &Paralympic athletes
— Ryan Ruggiero (@RyanRuggiero) February 5, 2014
(2) as well as our DeVry Grp colleagues around the world. We are against Russia’s anti-LGBT law & support efforts to improve LGBT equality. — Ryan Ruggiero (@RyanRuggiero) February 5, 2014
